Boosting terahertz generation in laser-field ionized gases using a sawtooth wave shape

Broadband ultrashort terahertz (THz) pulses can be produced using plasma generation in a noble gas ionized by femtosecond two-color pulses. Here we demonstrate that, by using multiple-frequency laser pulses, one can obtain a waveform which optimizes the free electron trajectories in such a way that...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: González de Alaiza, Pedro, Babushkin, Ihar, Bergé, Luc, Skupin, Stephan, Cabrera Granado, Eduardo, Köhler, Christian, Mörgner, Uwe, Husakou, Anton V., Herrmann, Jens
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/23092
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/23092
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:537.533.3
535.374
532.59
Electrons
Teraherz waves
Laser
Multiple frequency
Ionization
Inert gases
Optoelectrónica
Óptica física, óptica cuántica
Láseres
2209.19 Óptica física
2209.10 Láseres
Descripción
Sumario:Broadband ultrashort terahertz (THz) pulses can be produced using plasma generation in a noble gas ionized by femtosecond two-color pulses. Here we demonstrate that, by using multiple-frequency laser pulses, one can obtain a waveform which optimizes the free electron trajectories in such a way that they acquire the largest drift velocity. This allows us to increase the THz conversion efficiency to 2%, an unprecedented performance for THz generation in gases. In addition to the analytical study of THz generation using a local current model, we perform comprehensive 3D simulations accounting for propagation effects which confirm this prediction. Our results show that THz conversion via tunnel ionization can be greatly improved with well-designed multicolor pulses.